The Book of Scottish Song/Omnia vincit amor
Omnia vincit amor.
[From the Tea-Table Miscellany.]
As I went forth to view the spring,
Which Flora had adorned
In raiment fair; now every thing
The rage of winter scorned;
I cast mine eye, and did espy
A youth who made great clamour;
And drawing nigh I heard him cry,
Ah! Omnia vincit amor.
Upon his breast he lay along,
Hard by a murm'ring river,
And mournfully his doleful song
With sighs he did deliver;
Ah! Jeany's face was comely grace,
Her locks that shine like lammer,
With burning rays have cut my days;
For Omnia vincit amor.
Her glancy een like comets sheen,
The morning sun outshining,
Have caught my heart in Cupid's net,
And makes me die with pining.
Durst I complain, nature's to blame,
So curiously to frame her,
Whose beauties rare make me, with care,
Cry, Omnia vincit amor.
Ye crystal streams that swiftly glide,
Be partners of my mourning,
Ye fragrant fields and meadows wide,
Condemn her for her scorning;
Let every tree a witness be,
How justly I may blame her;
Ye chanting birds, note these my words,
Ah! Omnia vincit amor.
Had she been kind as she was fair,
She long had been admired,
And been ador'd for virtues rare,
Wh' of life now makes me tired.
Thus said, his breath began to fail,
He could not speak, but stammer;
He sigh'd full sore, and said no more,
But Omnia vincit amor.
When I observ'd him near to death,
I run in haste to save him,
But quickly he resign'd his breath,
So deep the wound love gave him.
Now for her sake this vow I'll make,
My tongue shall aye defame her,
While on his hearse I'll write this verse,
Ah! Omnia vncit amor.
Straight I consider'd in my mind
Upon the matter rightly,
And found, though Cupid he be blind,
He proves in pith most mighty.
For warlike Mars, and thund'ring Jove,
And Vulcan with his hammer,
Did ever prove the slaves of love;
For Omnia vincit amor.
Hence we may see the effects of love,
Which gods and men keep under,
That nothing can his bounds remove,
Or torments break asunder:
Nor wise nor fool need go to school
To learn this from his grammar:
His heart's the book where he's to look
For Omnia vincit amor.